Tracking unit

ABSTRACT

A tracking unit for assisting in the recovery of stolen monies or other property includes a housing containing a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals from overhead satellites, a cellular phone transceiver, a microprocessor, and a battery. Following a theft, the microprocessor activates the cellular phone transceiver to dial the telephone number of a central monitoring station. The microprocessor obtains location data from the GPS receiver and transmits the location data, along with identification information, to the central monitoring station. The tracking unit also includes a separate, conventional RF beacon transmitter for allowing authorities to home-in on the tracking unit within a large building or other structure, either after the GPS signals are lost, or after the location of the tracking unit is localized to a specific building or area.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/968,289, filed Oct. 1, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No.______, and the benefit of such earlier filing date is hereby claimedpursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to tracking systems for trackingthe location of stolen articles, and more particularly, to a trackingunit for aiding law enforcement officials in apprehending thieves andrecovering stolen monies or other property.

2. Description of the Relevant Art

Security packs, or “dye packs,” are known in the banking and securityfield for assisting law enforcement officers in apprehending bankrobbers and recovering stolen currency. These security packs are oftendisguised as bundles of currency and are handed out by bank tellers tobank robbers in the course of a robbery along with genuine,indistinguishable banded bundles of currency. The disguised securitypacks, though having the appearance of a banded bundle of currencybills, actually contain electronics used to trigger various compoundsthat can aid in apprehending the bank robber, including tear gas, smoke,and a dye that stains the robber and any other currency taken during therobbery. Various United States patents describe such security packs,including U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,888 to Bernhardt; U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,529to Bernhardt; U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,828 to Keniston; and U.S. Pat. No.5,485,143 to Keniston. While each of these dye pack systems includesfeatures that enhance the effectiveness of such security packs, theseknown systems do not permit law enforcement authorities to trackmovements of a bank robber once the robber is out of visual sight.

A currency security pack has been sold in the past under the trademark“ProNet” which emits a radio frequency signal for tracking purposes.However, the “ProNet” system requires that law enforcement officers useseveral radio receivers to triangulate on the emitted radio signal inorder to determine the location of the security pack. While such asystem can be helpful if the general location of the suspect is alreadyknown, law enforcement authorities often receive insufficient warning ofthe robbery to permit such tracking systems to be put into operationquickly enough to locate the robber.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,844 to Mansell, et al., assigned to Auto-Trac, Inc.of Dallas, Tex., discloses a vehicle tracking and security system foruse in the event of a vehicle theft, vehicle breakdown, or otheremergency. Mobile units installed in the vehicle include a GPS signalreceiver for receiving location data, as well as a cellular telephonetransmitter for transmitting location information onto a cellulartelephone communications link.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,052 to Eberwine discloses a system to assistaircraft search and rescue workers to locate missing aircraft in theevent of an emergency. The device includes both a GPS receiver and aradio modem transmitter. In the event of an emergency, the devicetransmits current time, craft ID, and position data in a data packet.

Applicant is also aware of a security system marketed under the brandname “LowJack” that is installed in automobiles, and which transmitssome form of radio and/or telephone signal to help locate a stolenautomobile; Applicant believes that U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,557,254 and5,682,133, both issued to Johnson, et al., and both assigned to MobileSecurity Communications, Inc. of Norcross, Ga., disclose theaforementioned tracking system used in the “LowJack” vehicle locatingsystem.

All of the devices described above are fairly large in size, and aretypically configured to transmit the location of a vehicle to a remotelocation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,958 to Durboraw, and assigned to Motorola,Inc. of Schaumburg, Ill., discloses a somewhat smaller hand-held compassdevice that uses GPS signals to derive current heading information, butit does not appear that this device transmits any data to a remotelocation.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,121,922 to Mohan, and assigned to Veridian ERIMInternational, Inc. of Ann Arbor, Mich., purports to disclose a trackingsystem that includes a miniaturized module that can be hidden in smallspaces, such as on the user's person, and which can transmit locationdata to a remote monitoring location. The disclosed unit is described asincluding a global positioning satellite receiver and related antenna, acommunications transceiver, a controller, and a rechargeable battery,all mounted on a thin substrate. The Mohan patent specification statesthat the disclosed device is small enough to permit “implantation andcovert operation in articles that are to be tracked (e.g., drugs,currency, artworks, etc.).” However, Mohan does not disclose theconcealment of such a device within a disguised bundle of currency, nordoes Mohan explain how such a device could actually be incorporatedwithin a disguised bundle of currency.

In addition, the aforementioned patent to Mohan notes that a loss ofsignal can occur due to structural or natural interference, as might bedue to buildings or terrain, for example. This loss of signal can occurbecause the GPS navigational signals can no longer be received by themobile module, and/or because the mobile module is unable to effectivelytransmit over the communications link to the remote monitoring location.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide atracking unit which may be disguised as banded stack of currency billsthat is capable of communicating its location to a remote monitoringstation following a bank robbery.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a trackingunit that derives location coordinates from GPS navigational signalstransmitted from overhead satellites.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such atracking unit that can transmit such location coordinates to a remotelocation using conventional cellular telephone communication links.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a trackingunit that can be tracked locally, as within a building, once suchtracking unit is no longer able to detect and/or transmit location dataover a conventional cellular telephone communications link.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a compacttracking unit that can be used to track the location of stolen property.

These and other objects of the present invention will become moreapparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereofproceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, and in accordance with one embodiment thereof, thepresent invention relates to a tracking unit that may be disguised as abundle of currency bills for assisting in the recovery of stolen monies,and including a housing simulating the size and weight of a bundledpackage of currency bills containing a miniaturized GPS receiver, aminiaturized communications link transmitter, a controller electricallycoupled with the GPS receiver and the communications link transmitter,and a battery for selectively providing electrical power to theaforementioned components. The GPS receiver receives GPS signals fromoverhead satellites and creates location data corresponding to thecurrent location of the security pack. The communications linktransmitter, which is preferably a cellular telephone transmitter,establishes a communications link with a remote location, such as acentral monitoring station. The controller, which may be amicroprocessor, selectively causes the communications link transmitterto communicate with the remote location, and to transmit thereto thelocation data created by the GPS receiver for indicating the currentlocation of the tracking unit.

Preferably, the tracking unit further includes a radio frequencytransmitter disposed within the housing for selectively transmitting aradio frequency beacon, or homing, signal, different from the radiosignal transmitted by the communications link transmitter. The radiofrequency beacon signal allows for localized conventional radioreceivers to detect such beacon signal if the GPS signals are lost, orif the general location of the tracking unit has been narrowed down to aparticular building, for example. In such instances, the controller candeactivate the communications link transmitter, and activate the beacontransmitter.

In order to distinguish one such tracking unit from another, each suchtracking unit is assigned a unique identification code, and thecontroller causes the communications link transmitter to transmit theidentification code in addition to the aforementioned location data.

To prevent unnecessary battery drain, the tracking unit includes a powerswitch for uncoupling the battery until the tracking unit is handed to arobber or otherwise deployed. Such a power switch might, for example,take the form of a reed switch responsive to a magnetic field of akeeper plate within a bank teller drawer. In this case, the magneticfield of the keeper plate keeps the reed switch open. If desired, thetracking unit can also incorporate a battery sensor and an audiblegenerator; the battery sensor causes the audible generator to emitwarning sounds if the battery has insufficient power remaining tosuccessfully operate the other electrical components of the trackingunit.

While the communications link transmitter can remain on continuouslyonce triggered, it is also possible for the controller to establish acommunications link with the remote location on a periodic basis aftersuch security pack is handed to a robber, or otherwise deployed, fortransmitting updated location data at periodic intervals.

Ideally, the communications link between the tracking unit and theremote location can be a two-way link, in which case the tracking unitincludes a communications link receiver for receiving signalstransmitted from the remote location over the communications link. Inthis instance, the controller is responsive to signals received by thecommunications link receiver from the remote location for modifying theoperation of the tracking unit. For example, in response to signalsreceived by the communications link receiver from the remote location,the controller can deactivate the communications link transmitter, andactivate the radio frequency beacon transmitter.

While such tracking system may be used to track stolen monies, it mayalso be used to track other types of property.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a security pack disguised as a bandedbundle of currency bills.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electrical components of a securitypack constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a physical layout of the components of FIG. 2upon a flexible connecting substrate.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the components shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, security pack 20 includes a housing 24 having ahollowed center portion 32 for concealing electronic components therein.Housing 24 is preferably made from actual currency bills that have beentaken out of circulation, in order to give housing 24 a more realisticfeel and appearance. An actual currency bill 26 is secured over theupper face of security pack 20 by band 28; similarly, another actualcurrency bill (not visible) covers the lower face of security pack 20.Preferably, a foam pad 34 is placed over the electrical componentshoused within hollowed center 32. Security pack 20 is thus disguised asa bundle of currency bills for assisting in the recovery of stolenmonies. Housing 24 simulates the size and weight of an actual bundledpackage of currency bills

Referring now to the block diagram of FIG. 2, security pack 20 includesa GPS receiver 40 and a related GPS receiver antenna 42 coupled thereto.GPS receiver receives GPS signals from overhead satellites and createslocation data corresponding to the current location of the securitypack. The miniaturized GPS receiver 40 and related antenna 42 may be ofthe type commercially available from Cadence Design Systems, Inc., asmanufactured by a company named Sirf. Security pack 20 also includes acommunications link transmitter which, in the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, is part of a cellular telephone transceiver 44which includes a related cellular phone antenna 45. The miniaturizedcellular telephone transceiver 44 and antenna 45 are commerciallyavailable from Sprint, and are manufactured by QualComm.

Still referring to FIG. 2, GPS receiver 40 and cellular phonetransceiver 44 are both coupled to system controller 46; in thepreferred embodiment, controller 46 is a miniaturized central processingunit of the type commercially available from Cadence Design Systems,Inc. Controller 46 is used to interface GPS receiver 40 with cellulartransmission chip set in order to dial a remotely-located, centralmonitoring/tracking station and to coordinate the transmission of GPScoordinate data continuously updated by GPS receiver 40.

Electrical power is selectively supplied by battery 50 to GPS receiver40, system controller 46, and cellular phone transceiver 44, through apower switch 48; in the preferred embodiment, power switch 48 is amagnetic reed switch. Security pack 20 is normally kept on a magnetickeeper plate (not shown) in a bank teller's drawer. When reed switch 48is in the presence of the magnetic field of the keeper plate, reedswitch 48 is open, and battery 50 is disconnected from components 40, 46and 44. However, when security pack 20 is removed from the tellerdrawer, and the magnetic field of the keeper plate, reed switch 48closes, and supplies electrical power to components 40, 46, and 44.Battery 50 is preferably formed of commercially available lithiumbatteries which are generally lightweight, but which can store aconsiderable amount of electrical power.

If desired, battery 50 can be coupled electrically to a voltage sensingcircuit 52, or power management circuit, to monitor the voltageremaining on battery 50. Sensing circuit 52 is coupled to a low batteryalarm circuit 54 for creating an audible alarm when battery 50 no longerhas sufficient electrical power to operate the remaining electricalcomponents of security pack 20.

In the event of a bank robbery, reed switch 48 closes, and energizescontroller 46, GPS receiver 40, and cellular transceiver 44. It takesGPS receiver 40 about one minute to initialize before it can providelocation coordinates. Once GPS receiver 40 initializes, controller 46directs cellular phone transceiver 44 to dial out on a cellular wirelesslink. This call might be received by a modem attached to a computerwithin a local police station or other central monitoring/trackingstation (not shown). While the tracking station may be located in thegeneral area where the bank or other protected premises is located, thecellular transceiver could, in some instances, be instructed to make along distance call to a tracking station located in another state.Computer software installed at the monitoring station receives the GPScoordinate data received from security pack 20, and begins to map thecurrent location of the unit on a computer display screen.

As the location coordinates change, the display screen shows a trail onthe map extending from the initial location to the current location. Thecentral monitoring station can then relay such information to a policestation or directly to a vehicle-based display unit within a police carto aid in pursuit of the robber.

Controller 46 can be programmed either to “stay on the line” tocontinuously transmit location data to the remote tracking station, orto dial such telephone number periodically, for example, every fiveminutes, in order to transmit the then-current location of the securitypack to the central tracking station. Such information can then be usedby local police authorities to help apprehend the bank robber, and torecover the stolen money. Preferably, each security pack 20 is assigneda unique identification code, and controller 46 causes transceiver 44 totransmit the identification code in addition to the aforementionedlocation data.

As mentioned above, if a robber takes security pack 20 into a buildingthat has a metal framework, security pack 20 may not be able to properlyreceive overhead GPS signals; likewise, security pack 20 might not beable to properly transmit cellular phone signals in such an environment.As shown in FIG. 2, security pack 20 also preferably includes a separateconventional radio frequency (RF) transmitter beacon 56, and related RFantenna 58, for allowing authorities to home-in on the security packwithin a large building or other structure that prevents cellulartransmission of accurate GPS signals from taking place. In this event,the GPS data transmitted by the cellular phone transmitter guides policeto such a building or other structure, and final tracking takes placeusing the conventional RF beacon signal. In such instances, controller46 deactivates the transceiver 44, and activates beacon transmitter 56.

Ideally, the communications link between security pack 20 and the remotetracking station can be a two-way link, as by transceiver 44. In thiscase, security pack 20 can actually receive signals transmitted from theremote tracking location over the communications link. In this instance,controller 46 is responsive to signals received by transceiver 44 fromthe remote location for modifying the operation of security pack 20. Forexample, in response to signals received from the remote location,controller 46 can deactivate transceiver 44, and activate the radiofrequency beacon transmitter 56, as when the police have pinned down thelocation of security pack 20 to a particular building or area.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the layout of the component chip sets, and relatedantennas, is shown on a flexible mounting/interconnecting substrate 60.Substrate 60 provides physical support for each of components 40-56, andalso incorporates electrical conductors for making electricalinterconnections therebetween.

While the description set forth above has described a preferredembodiment using cellular phone transmission, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that transmission to overhead satellites may also beemployed if desired.

Those skilled in the art will now appreciate that an improved securitypack has been described which permits tracking of the location of thesecurity pack at a remote location, with the ability to home-in locallyon the security pack. While the present invention has been describedwith respect to preferred embodiments thereof, such description is forillustrative purposes only, and is not to be construed as limiting thescope of the invention. Various modifications and changes may be made tothe described embodiments by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A tracking system for assisting in theft recovery,the system comprising: a tracking unit, the unit comprising: a housingsimulating a size and weight of a bundled package of currency; a globalpositioning system (GPS) receiver disposed within said housing andconfigured to receive GPS signals for determining location of thetracking unit; a wireless telephone transceiver disposed within saidhousing and configured to establish a communications link, transmit thelocation of and an identifier for the tracking unit via thecommunications link, and to receive a command signal via thecommunications link; a radio frequency (RF) beacon transmitter disposedwithin said housing configured to transmit an RF beacon; and acontroller disposed within said housing and electrically coupled to saidGPS receiver, said wireless telephone transceiver, and said radiofrequency beacon transmitter, said controller configured to direct thewireless telephone transceiver to establish the communications link andtransmit the location and identifier, said controller further configuredto, in response to the command signal, perform an operation selectedfrom the group consisting of: deactivating the wireless telephonetransceiver, activating the RF beacon transmitter, and a combinationthereof; and a remote monitoring unit configured to receive theinformation transmitted by the tracking unit via the communications linkand to transmit the command signal via the communications link whenprompted by a system user.
 15. The tracking system of claim 14, whereinsaid tracking unit comprises a power switch for minimizing electricalpower drain on a power source for the unit until said tracking unit isactivated.
 16. The tracking system of claim 15, wherein said powerswitch comprises a reed switch responsive to a magnetic field of akeeper plate.
 17. The tracking system of claim 14, wherein saidcontroller is configured to cause said wireless telephone transceiver toestablish the communications link with the remote monitoring unit on aperiodic basis after the tracking unit is activated.
 18. The trackingsystem of claim 14, wherein said controller is configured to cause saidwireless telephone transceiver to establish and maintain continuouslythe communications link with the remote monitoring unit after thetracking unit is activated.
 19. The tracking system of claim 14, furthersaid tracking unit further comprises a warning generator and a sensorfor detecting strength of a power source for said tracking unit, saidsensor causing said warning generator to generate a warning if saidpower source strength falls below a predetermined threshold.
 20. Thetracking system of claim 14, wherein the remote monitoring unitcomprises a modem attached to a computer.
 21. The tracking system ofclaim 14, wherein the remote monitoring unit is configured, uponactivation of the tracking system, to show a current location of thetracking unit on a map.
 22. The tracking system of claim 21, wherein theremote monitoring unit is configured, upon activation of the trackingsystem, to show a trail on the map extending from an initial location ofthe tracking unit on the map to a current location on the map.
 23. Thetracking system of claim 14, wherein the GPS receiver is attached to aGPS antenna, collectively comprising a GPS module; the wirelesstelephone transceiver is attached to a wireless telephone antenna,collectively comprising a wireless telephone module; and the GPS module,the wireless telephone module, the radio frequency (RF) beacontransmitter, the controller, and a power source are all disposed on aflexible substrate.
 24. The tracking system of claim 23, wherein theflexible substrate further comprises electrical conductors for makingelectrical connections among the GPS module, the wireless telephonemodule, the radio frequency (RF) beacon transmitter, the controller, andthe power source.
 25. A tracking system comprising: a tracking unit, theunit comprising: a housing; a global positioning system (GPS) receiverdisposed within said housing for receiving GPS signals for determininglocation of the tracking unit; a first communications module disposedwithin said housing and configured to operate pursuant to a firstcommunications protocol for establishing a communications link, thefirst communications module configured to transmit the location of andan identifier for the tracking unit via the communications link and toreceive a command signal via the communications link; a secondcommunications module disposed within said housing and configured totransmit a beacon signal via a second communications protocol differentfrom the first communications protocol; and a controller disposed withinsaid housing and electrically coupled to said GPS receiver, said firstcommunications module, and said second communications module, saidcontroller configured to cause the first communications module toestablish the communications link and transmit the location andidentifier, and further configured to perform a function selected fromthe group consisting of: deactivating the first communications module inresponse to receipt of the command signal, activating the secondcommunications module in response to the command signal, and acombination thereof; and a remote monitoring unit configured to receivethe information transmitted by the tracking unit via the communicationslink and to transmit the command signal via the communications link whenprompted by a system user.
 26. The tracking system of claim 25, whereinthe tracking unit housing resembles a bundled package of currency. 27.The tracking system of claim 25, wherein the first communications modulecomprises a transceiver.
 28. The tracking system of claim 25, whereinthe first communications protocol comprises a wireless telephonecommunications protocol.
 29. The tracking system of claim 28, whereinthe wireless telephone communications protocol is a cellular telephoneprotocol.
 30. The tracking system of claim 25, wherein the secondcommunications protocol comprises an RF frequency communicationsprotocol.
 31. The tracking system of claim 25, wherein the firstcommunications protocol comprises a wireless telephone communicationsprotocol and the second communications protocol comprises an RFfrequency communications protocol.
 32. The tracking system of claim 25,wherein the GPS receiver, the first communications module, the secondcommunications module, the controller, and a power source are alldisposed on a flexible substrate.
 33. The tracking system of claim 25,wherein the remote monitoring unit is configured, upon activation of thetracking system, to show a current location of the tracking unit on amap.